Catching device



Feb. 11, 1930. J STIERL 1,746,914

CATCHING DEVICE Filed Feb. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. STIERL CATCHING DEVICE Feb. 11, 1930.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1929 Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES JOHN" STIERL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO CATCHING- DEVICE Application filed February 21, 1929. Serial No. 341,763.

This invention relates to game devices used for catching players, altho it may be used for other purposes. In one respect it is an improvement on my Patent No. 1,634,564, is-

sued July 5, 1927.

The object of the invention is to improve and perfect the construction of such devices, and to provide a trigger control for the operation of the catching arms.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a top plan. Fig. 3 is a plan of the handle portion with the top plate removed and the arms in set or open position on the line 3-3 of Fig. 7 Fig. 4 is a section on the line %4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail on plan showing the yoke which operates the arms, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 7 Fig. 6 is a top view of the handle. Fig. 7 is a central vertical section of the handle.

In the drawings, 6 indicates a casing with a top plate 7 and a piston trigger handle 8. This casing is hollow, and the top plate has a slot ,9. The sides of the casing have slots through which extend the inner ends of curved arms 10 which are lapped or crossed and pivoted together, and to the handle, by apin 11. Each arm has a lug 12 extending rearwardly in the handle and arranged in lapped relation, one above the other. Each arm has a slot 13 which receives pins la 'depending from the branches 15 of a yoke member the stem 16 of which has a projecting finger piece 17 working in the slot 9, and a rod 18 which works in a hole at 19 in a flange 20 extending across the underside of the cover 7. A spring 21 is coiled around this rod in compression between the stem and the flange, and tends to force the yoke forwardly, with the result that the arms are swung to closed position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

Mounted in the handle, below the yoke, is a trigger 22 normally pressed forwardly by a spring 23 coiled around a rod 24: between the trigger and a cross web 25 in the casing 6.

The front end of the trigger may be advanced between the lugs 12, when the arms are in open or set position, as shown in Fig. 3. When the arms 10 swing to closed position the lugs 12 swing across each other so that the trigger 22 may also be advanced between said lugs, which will lock the arms in closed position. In other words the lugs 12 are so designed that the trigger 22 will be between the same in either position of the arms.

In operation the arms are set in open position by pulling back the projection 17 and also the trigger 22, until fully opened, and the trigger 22 is then released and the spring 23 advances the same to position between the lugs 12, as shown in Fig. 3, which thus locks the arms in open position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. lVhen in use or play a player is to be caught the trigger 22 is pulled back by the finger until it is withdrawn from between the lugs 12 and the spring 21 then acts to force the yoke 16 forwardly and the pins 1 1 working in the slots 13 draw the arms together or to closed position and the player is caught. When this occurs the trigger 22 is released and is advanced by its spring 23 to position between the lugs 12, which have then assumed the alternate position above described, and the arms are locked against being opened until the trigger is again pulled.

I claim:

1. A catching device comprising a handle member, a pair of arms pivoted to said handle member, a spring pressed yoke mounted to slide in the handle, and with its branches pivotally connected to the arms respectively, and tending to close said arms, and a trigger on the handle, engageable with the arms to hold them in open position.

2. A catching device as in claim 1, the yoke having a projection extending through a slot in the handle member, by means of which the yoke may be pressed back to open the arms.

3. A catching device as in claim 1, the arms having lugs at their inner ends, between which the trigger engages to hold the arms in either open or closed position.

at. A catching device as in claim 1, the handle member being hollow and the yoke and trigger being slidable, one above the other, therein, the yoke having a projection exposed through the top of the handle member and the trigger being exposed through the bottom thereof.

In testimony whereof, I do atfix my signature.

JOHN STIER-L. 

